SOUTH AMERICAN GIANTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 7883, 13 July 1900, Page 2

SOUTH AMERICAN GIANTS.

A HARDY RACE GRADUALLY BECOMING EXTINCT. Dr Frederick A. Cook, of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, -writes in the March 'Century' of 'The Giant Indians of Tierra del Fuego,' his text being ilhuitrateckwith pictures drawn from photographs by himself.

The Fuegians have been reported, from time to time, since the country wag Hint sighted and named by Magellan 1520, but to-day they still remain almost unknown. In connection with the voyage ol the Belgica he had unusual opporunitie* for studying their wild life, and their weather-beaten land. They are not, as is generally supposed, one homogeneous tribe, but three distinct raoes, with different languages, different appearances, different habits and homes. . , The Onas hare thus far evaded all effort* at civilisation, have refused missionaries, and have to the present time, with good reason, mistrusted white men. They have in consequence, remained absolutely unknown. The Onas, as a tribe, have never been united in a common interest, nor have they ever been led by any one great chief. They hare always been divided into small clans under a leader with limited power*, and these chiefs have waged constant, warfare among themselves. To the present they have had their worst enemies among their own people, but now that sheep farmer* and gold digger* want their country they are uniting to fight their common enemy. PhysicaUy the Onas are giants. They are- not, however, seren or eight feet & bright, as the early explorers reported their p.Hghbors and nearest relatives, the P*U~ g©suaw f to b#. 33nfe *ve»g« bright i* >

oloso to nix feet, a few attain six feet, and six Inchon, and a few are undtr *l* feet. Tho women are not no tall, but they are more corpulent. There in perhaps no race in the world with a more perfect physical development than the Ona men. Their unique development is partly due to the topography of their country and to the scarcity of game, which ninkes lowg marches necessary. The Ona men. are certainly the greatest cross-country runners on the American, Continent.

Tho mental equipment of the Ona is by no means equal to his splendid physical development. He understands very well (ho few arts of the ehasn which he finds necessary to maintain a food supply. Ills game in the ptist, has been easily gotten j his needs have been few, which fnct accounts for tho lack of inventive skill portrayod In the instruments <>r the chase. Tho borne life, the house, the clothing—everything portrays his lack of progressive skill.' Instead of the children being well dressed and will cured for, as Is (he rulo among savage races, they are mostly naked, poorly fed, badly trained, anil altogether

noglocUnl, not liocnunfl (if lark of pn{oriinl l«tve, but, bocnur<* of tlm inrntftl lHlmruy of lie people. It, ih tlm witop n» to Mn-ltor iiid (fiirnionlfi. Tlicy '" ,v ' n nbuinliint micriiil to limlto ({imkl (■out# iiihl wnrin, «U>nntrnof lioiihph j but, tlicy niinply bimcli up , few brntirliOK mid llirmv t<i (lin wind* rnrtl a fi'W (ddim, nn<l (lion *lilv<r, comof tliciv mlNcrnlilo txiftlrnmi.